Beer Events 3.12

Events

Bristol magistrates fixed the price of beer, punishing violators with forfeiture of the brewery (England; 1283)

Thomas Marsh patented an Improvement in Beer Faucets (1867)

Cooke Brewing bought Union Brewing (Chicago, Illinois; 1885)

Herman Eldredge died (1898)

Edward Lukowski patented a Beer-Tap (1912)

Siesel Canaday patanted a Beer Keg (1940)

Leland Floyd patented a Beer Cooling Keg (1940)

Ballantine Burton Ale brewed for 2nd, and last, time (1946)

Gisbert Schlimme and Manfred Tschirner patented a Device for the Germination and Drying of Malt (1974)

Caldera Brewing incorporated (Oregon; 1996)

Steinecker patented a Brewing House System Including at Least Two Wort Coppers (1996)

Breweries Opened

Otter Creek Brewing (Vermont; 1991)

Panther City Brewery & Cafe (Texas; 1996)

Otter Creek Brewing & Dewar's Fine Scotch Whiskies

Otter Creek Russian Imperial Stout #OtterCreekBrewing #craftbeer

HEAT

by R. S.

There is hellfire hidden in the nooks and crannies of the sidewalk. I feel it devouring the soles of my high tops, increasing their elasticity and even going as far as to warm the bottoms of my feet. I feel the sun burrow its heat into my flesh, carving out the sweet memory of air conditioning and filling the cavern with bubbling, molten copper and the itchy prospect of ruddy cheeks and chaffed limbs. There is a breeze. It's a terrible breeze, like the rush of wind from an overworked oven without a hint of cinnamon or spice, but not at all lacking in the classic Sacramento summer smell of distant wildfire. Sweat arrives in record time to ensure that my eyes, too, shall burn for the unforgivable sin of needing to get from point A to point B by foot in August.

A sedan zips by, windows up. My eyes flash green.

In this moment I miss being a kid, when I always had a ride. I took it for granted, then. On car rides, without fail I would bemoan the lack of a sweet drink (never water, no thank you) to douse my parched throat not fifteen minutes past departing our front door – and whenever my aunt fell victim to my whining, without fail she would suggest that I swallow my spit. My young heart shriveled each time it happened, yet now in adulthood I find myself beseeching my salivary glands for respite from the fractured desert threatening to overtake what moments ago was a perfectly functioning mouth. Reflexively my merely damp tongue flicks out to wet my cracked lips, which succeeds at nothing. I realize my bottom lip is bleeding, that sickly saline taste settling in the pit of my stomach like a sun-baked brick.

I've never liked summer. Not even as a child.

Summer was the thief that stole from me all the things I loved. Summer took away my school library, my friends, and, most of all, my dignity. My chunky little limbs grew sticky and hot before 10 AM many days. My blood sugar level skyrocketed as I ate otter pop after otter pop in futile attempt to lower my body temperature. My skin itched not only from sun damage but more intensely from the bug bites collected on the occasional camping trip – the only respite from the profound boredom brought about by summer.

My aunt, the one who told me to swallow my spit when I tried to coax a sweet drink from her, had a friend whose property had a large stream, or perhaps a small river flowing through it. Every so often we drove ATVs the few miles from their house to the campground, a tiny, mostly-natural clearing between the water's edge and dense woods. My aunt's friends had cobbled together some rocks to create a dam, calming the waters that the clearing met. Still, as their kids, my cousin, our friends, and I all grew older together we would brave the more treacherous terrain further from the campground, climbing slimy, leech-ridden boulders further and further into the unknown without a single fear beyond missing a call to meal.

My aunt delivered on the sweet drinks when we went camping. I'd climb out of the tent, usually shared with my cousin and my brother, lifted from my dreams by the sweet smell of chocolate. A fire would already be crackling, warming pots of coffee and Yoo-hoo, boxed chocolate milk that my aunt poured into a pot for us kids to enjoy while the grown-ups drank their morning brew. As we sipped, she threw some Spam into a pan, then scrambled eggs. The grown-ups always had folding chairs set up around the fire, and us kids sat in our tents or at the river's edge, eager to finish breakfast and dive into the cool, morning water. My aunt, always cautious, made us wait ten long minutes after eating to swim.

That ritual gnawed on my patience, but I never questioned it. I may have been a kid, but I knew that everything she did for us, and all of her rules, came from a place of love. Everywhere she went, she left love in her wake. She filled our lives with love, and I never felt unsafe, like I would now, sitting among strangers and eating the food she made for us. The trees' canopy drapes my memories of our myriad camping trips in a sun-mottled faint blue – these hands that years ago reached fruitlessly from the water's edge for the small brown fish and silver flashes of minnows flitting nervously among smooth, algae coated stones at the bottom of the shallow river, now long to capture that joy that lived inside of me when I was so small.

The person whose hands are typing this finds it hard to believe that they are the same person who happily ate and swam and sang with strangers, men and their wives and children, none of whom I knew but all of them my best friends the moment they arrived. Hello, what's your name, do you want to play? Safety lurked in the shadows between the trees back then. Home rustled outside our tents at night. Happiness haunted my dreams. I can't even camp anymore, fear seeping into my skin like this hellish sunshine, carving out the happy memories of the clearing and replacing them with imagery of imminent disaster.

It's been years, maybe a decade, since I last swam in that large creek, or small river. I can't pinpoint a specific memory for the last time we camped there. Happy flashbacks melt together into one sweet, though blurry, sentiment that carves out a warm chamber in a region of my heart that cannot be ransacked by the various anxieties that I've accidentally collected over the years. I like to try to find that little spot on Google Maps every now and again, try to imagine myself back there today. I like to imagine that the magic us kids felt then is still thrumming its song at the old fire pit, immortal as time and untouchable as faith by adulthood's cruel and rationalizing hand.

I feel anxiety's familiar grasp around my throat as a truck speeds past. I remember chasing lizards among the river rocks.

My heart blooms with an achy nostalgia when I recall the glittery rose-tinted lenses through which my world was filtered when I was a child. I miss the sweet innocence of belief – belief in angels and ghosts and Santa Claus, belief that everything was going to be okay even when the rocks were slippery and the spaces between the trees were pitch black and the river was roaring just beyond the makeshift dam.

My heart, my feet, and the sun beat a helter-skelter cadence as I make my way through the heat. The sidewalk ends, but there's a little creek running along the road, now. In it, I see the occasional flashes of silver, and I wonder how to capture them.

I hold out hope that one day I just might.

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03gcCZDrSmw)

Cat sketch card. Came out with more of a mustache than I intended. Might call him Mitch. #cat #mustache #drawing #sketchcard #drawing #art (at Otter Creek Brewing) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1MkH0mBJAu/?igshid=fu0zwyff9q9y

Check Out Our Travel Guide To Homer AK | Champagne Traveling

(This is part 4 of our 4 part Alaska series) 200 miles south of Anchorage, we reached Homer. Homer is a very quirky place in Alaska, known as either the “End of the Road” as it ends the Sterling Highway in Alaska or the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World.” The town of 5000 is made of a funky mix of fisherman, artists, and foodies and the atmosphere is decidedly friendly and laidback. Not a lot of tourist traps are here, but authentic restaurants and artsy boutiques perfect for the final 5 days of our 2 weeks Alaskan journey. We stayed at the Kenai Peninsula Suites which I cannot more highly recommend. They have a simply stunning location on a cliff overlooking the Kachemak Bay and their lodging consists of either cabins or these very unique bunkers. These bunkers are underground cabins that you enter from above and descend into the cabin built into a grassy bluff. Once inside, a huge floor to ceiling slider grants views of the blue waters of the Kachemak where you can spot whale spots right from your bedroom. We stayed in the Bear’s Den which also included a kitchenette and outdoor grill. 

Homer Spit

Our first exploration in Homer was the Homer Spit…it is a 4.5 mile expanse of land jutting into the Kachemak Bay. It’s a fantastic place for a stroll with restaurants, galleries, and places to hop onto a fishing charter. It’s most famous landmark is the Salty Dawg Saloon. The interior of the saloon has every inch covered with signed one dollar bills and tourists, including those that don’t even drink, stop by to see the authentic Homer feel. We definitely made a pit stop for a beer and then browsed some of the local boutiques. Homer is an artist’s enclave and you can find a lot of local art throughout the Spit. Definitely stray off the main road and onto the beach as the tides on the Homer Spit can fluctuate markedly, with an average of 16 feet.the pebbly beach at low tide unearths all kinds of marine life in the tidal pools, and if you look out on the bay you can see whales and otters. 

Kachemak Bay State Park

After our time on the Spit, we caught a boat across the Kachemak Bay the next day to Kachemak Bay State Park. This massive park covers 80 miles but in our day trip we opted for the 4.5 mile hike from Glacier Spit to Glacier Lake. We used Mako’s Water Taxi which operates the 30 minute water taxi from Homer over to the Park. We detoured from the beautiful woodland hike to cross a river via the Grewingk tram just for the experience of operating our first hand tram. One of us got in the metal basket while the other pulled the rope to send the tram slowly over the rushing river. Once at the glacier, we unpacked our lunches and had the blue glacial waters speckled with chunks of ice calved from the Grewingk Glacier as our backdrop. We felt as though we had this park entirely to ourselves as we saw no other people the entire day we were threre. After lunch, we connected with the Saddle Trail that led us to a protected cove where our water taxi picked us back up to travel back to Homer with a few lovable otters along the way. Kachemak Bay was amazing…from the moment our water taxi left, the quiet was overwhelming. Sitting on the beach of the lake with no one else in the world surrounded by mountains on all sides was magical.  Our other days in Homer, we visited a few other local spots. We loved  2 Sisters Bakery where we often grabbed breakfast and a few cookies.The Homer Brewing Company is definitely worth a visit. They have a low key brewery, cool t-shirts, and often have an oyster food truck just outside. Also, the Bear Creek Winery is a small winery with 2 main brands, Bear Creek and its sister wine, Glacier Bear. They both focus on Alaskan grown fruits to create unique blends involving fruits like rhubarb, strawberry, and blueberry. Tastings are offered from 12 to 6 most days and it was a delicious few hours. We also made a stop at the local theater for the annual Homer Documentary Film Festival where we saw the film The Great Alone about the Iditarod. The festival usually runs at the the end of September. Most nights though, we relaxed at the Kenai Peninsula Suites where they have a hot tub and a fire pit looking out onto the Kachemak Bay…not a bad way to end a day…and Homer wasn’t a bad place to wrap up our ambitious 2 weeks in Alaska. After hopping to a new destination every night or two, it was very relaxing to wind down and spend a final five days in Homer. They say that even if you see a million acres a day, you would still need over a year to see all of Alaska…so I guess we’ll have to plan a trip back! 

200 miles south of Anchorage, we reached Homer Alaska. Homer is a very quirky place in Alaska, known as either the “End of the Road” as it ends the Sterling Highway in Alaska or the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World.” The town of just 5000 is made of a funky mix of fisherman, artists, and foodies and the atmosphere is decidedly friendly and laid back.  Be sure to check our Three Sisters Cafe (we went here a lot), the Salty Dawg, and Homer Brewing Company. We spent 3 nights in Homer AK and stayed at the amazing Kenai Peninsula Suits.  They have a bunker style room that is built into the mountain side looking out over Kachemak Bay. Every morning we would wake up to see whales right outside our room. There is amazing hiking just across Kachemak Bay that is only accessible by boat.  We spent a day hiking to an amazing glacier in Kachemak State Park. Homer is an amazing place to visit and we have a full travel guide to help plan your adventure. This is part 4 of our 4 part Alaska series. You can read the whole series on our website https://www.champagnetraveling.com - - - - - #champagnetraveling #AK #travelaroundtheworld #travelwithme #travelalaska #travelbloggers #travelinspiration #explorealaska #travel_captures #alaskalife #sharingalaska #homer #travelbag #homerbrewingcompany #travelandleisure #travelstories #oysters #travellove #travellovers #travelislife #travelporn #traveltips #travelguide #travelstyle #alaskan #alaskaairlines #alaskanadventures Read the full article

^@! Vtg OTTER CREEK BREWING HAT Rare Baseball Cap BEER Middlebury Vermont BREWERY https://ift.tt/3eoqkzl

Easing into my first weekend night (yeah, I know it’s Tuesday, but it’s my weekend) with an ice cold Shed IPA and the delicious sounds of the Impex SACD of “Legrande Jazz.” With the lights dimmed down low, the music just exploded from my Magneplaner 1.7i speakers. The sense of these long dead musicians such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ben Webster, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Milt Hinton, Ernie Royal, Nat Pierce, and host of others on three distinct groups playing Michel Legrande’s arrangements of some classic jazz tunes is the stuff dreams are made of. As usual, @impexrecords has done a superb job of transferring this wonderful music to SACD. This is one disc you do not want to miss, either in the SACD form I’m enjoying or their superb LP. And nothing goes better with an excellent jazz recording than a cold IPA like the Shed Brewery one I’m enjoying. A match made in heaven - great jazz remastered with taste and style by a quality company (Impex) and a wonderful IPA (now brewed by Otter Creek Brewing Company of Middlebury, VT. What a great way to open my night. #sacd #impexrecords #jazz #music #stereo #hybriddisc #album #digital #audio #highend #audiophile #shedbrewery #ipa #beer #relaxing #weekend https://www.instagram.com/p/B7CbfjpJWoG/?igshid=l7g5m332cod

I really didn’t know what to expect from my trip to . On road trips as a kid, I remember always driving through on our way to the USA, but we never stopped on the way. is known for its manufacturing and industrial heritage, and it’s called the “Automotive Capital of ”. So, would I be able to find unique things to do in that fit my interests? Is eco-friendly even possible in the country’s historic car capital?

is a city that will truly surprise you. Everyone that I met was really proud to call home. I could really feel the community vibes through every place I visited. It seemed as though everyone knew one another, even in a city of 200,000. There’s a lively vegan scene that even has its own VegFest (I sadly had just missed it). So, what are some places to visit in if you love outdoor adventures and eco-friendly activities? Here are my top five choices for a fun and memorable weekend in .

Spend the Night on a Sailboat (the Boatel)

I got to check an item off my bucket list in , : spending the night on my own private sailboat. You can book your stay at the “Boatel” through Airbnb (if you’re new to Airbnb, you can sign up through this link to receive an awesome discount!).

This 27-foot sailboat is aptly named, “Take-A-Chance”, and it seems rather fitting. I’m always taking chances on new opportunities as I find myself saying “yes” to adventures as much as possible. You’ll certainly have experiences at the boatel that you won’t have anywhere else. It’s certainly one of the best things to do in , and one of the most unique places to stay in the country.

The sailboat is owned by Chris and Danielle, an energetic couple who also own Urban Surf, an outdoor adventure company. Urban Surf is just steps from the boat, so you’ll easily be able to take advantage of the rentals, excursions, and classes at Urban Surf, if you choose. More on that shortly.

What It’s Like to Stay on a Boat

Back to the boat itself, you’ll feel right at home in this docked boat in the marina at East Pike Creek. In fact, I got to chatting with several local homeowners/boat owners, as they wondered what the experience was like staying in a rented boat hotel. If you’re expecting a luxurious, five star hotel, look elsewhere. However, what you’ll find here is an experience like no other.

The interior of the boat is decked out with bright decor and colorful throw pillows. There’s a bohemian, artsy vibe, complete with its own coloring book and crayons should you wish to relax and create some art of your own. I loved the little, thoughtful touches on the boat. There’s an air diffuser with essential oils, and a Fuji Instax Camera with a journal so you can leave a photo behind to memorialize your stay.

Amenities on Board

There’s a boat toilet on board, in case nature calls. However, it’s easiest and best if you walk up the block to Urban Surf to use their restroom facilities. While there aren’t modern amenities like Wi-Fi or air conditioning on the boat, there are several fans and a little port to open above your bed so you can gaze up at the sky. Even on the hottest days (and boy, was it hot when I visited!), it gets quite cool at night between the screen door and the fans. You will need the blankets that they provide!

The boatel has a cedar, outdoor shower, as well as a private deck with a bonfire and a picnic table. There’s ample space on the back of the boat to sit with your partner or your pals. While the boat ideally sleeps one or two people, families of four have stayed on the boat in the past.

An Eco-Friendly Accommodation Experience

It’s a fabulous opportunity to unplug, enjoy nature, and gaze up at the night sky. I saw so much wildlife sitting on the back of the boat. As paddle boarders drifted by, families of geese and swans paddled around the water, too (the baby swans were adorable!). When I was taking photos, I heard a little commotion in the water. I looked down and there he was: a little otter with a fish in his mouth, doing a mad doggy-paddle right past my boat. I didn’t even know that otters lived in our lakes!

Your stay includes two rentals: stand up paddle boards (SUP), kayaks, or canoes, so you can get out there and enjoy the lake. You’ll also receive a smoothie per person from Maverick’s Cold Bar (at Urban Surf), as well as complimentary bike rentals. It’s only fitting that an eco-friendly accommodation also offers adventures that are equally as kind to the environment.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at this sailboat in Tecumseh (), . It’s truly a one-of-a-kind accommodation, and I’d take that over a run of the mill hotel when given the opportunity. Spending the night on a sailboat was one of my favorite things to do in . I loved very calmly drifting back and forth as I fell asleep at night. It was so quiet and peaceful out there. Book your stay on the boat today, and don’t forget my savings link for new Airbnb members!

Take a Sunset SUP Tour

Right on the edge of Lake St. Clair, it’s easy to enjoy water activities in . Every day in the summer, Urban Surf offers a Sunset Paddle at 7:30pm from Pike Creek to Lake St. Clair. They’ll get you outfitted with a stand-up paddle board and they’ll also let you borrow a waterproof bag for your phone throughout your journey. It’s certainly a good idea, just in case you fall in the water!

The sunset paddle is great for people of all ages and abilities, even if you’ve never tried SUP before. The creek is extremely calm, and you can paddle at your own pace. Two guides will paddle out to the lake with you, so you can always ask them for tips and advice on the way. It’s fun for families, friends, couples, and even those traveling solo, like myself.

Once you reach the lake, the water gets slightly more choppy. And there really aren’t many waves at all. Our group paddled out to the lake to watch the sunset together. At this point, feel free to sit down on your paddle board and relax. It’s all about soaking up the beautiful surroundings as you watch the sun go down. There’s nothing like taking in the views of an unobstructed, gorgeous sunset.

We paddled back before the sun went completely down, as it was best to have some daylight left as we navigated our way back. The sky was awash in pink, red, and purple. It was a calm and peaceful paddle back to land. After your paddle, why not try a treat at Maverick’s Cold Bar? They’ve got vegan ice cream and other snacks!

Urban Surf also has other special events in addition to their nightly sunset paddles. You can register for “Boards & Brews” to enjoy paddling, beer, and a bonfire at night. There’s also the “Light up the Night” event, which begins with a bonfire and continues with a moonlight paddle (spoiler alert: glow sticks are involved!). No matter what time of day you try it, a SUP trip is one of the best things to do in .

Go Cycling on Bike Friendly Paths

A bike ride along Lake St. Clair is one of the perfect activities in the spring, summer and fall. If you’re looking for what to do in , add bike riding to your list. Don’t have your own bike with you? You can rent a cruiser bike or even an electric bike at Urban Surf. I was thinking about taking the electric bike out for a spin. But, with thunderstorm clouds looming ahead, I decided it might be a bad idea to ride one of these for the first time through the rain. So, I opted for a cruiser bike instead.

On your bike ride in Tecumseh from Urban Surf, you can catch glimpses of spectacular estate homes, panoramic lake vistas, and hidden lighthouses. Enjoy the green spaces around the region as you bike along the trails, encountering small parks and even a sandy beach. Exploring the city by bike is one of the best things to do in .

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Tip: If You Get Hungry

From Urban Surf, you can ride your bike along the paths for 15-20 minutes before reaching Healthy Mama. They’ve got smoothie bowls and healthy eats: the perfect fuel for your journey. Continue reading to check out the best vegan eats in !

With miles of trails and paths to explore, be sure to check out the Cycling Tourism Map on the official TWEPI website. There are six highlighted routes throughout the region, with gorgeous lakeside trails in Tecumseh and the Riverfront Trail in the city. There’s nothing like taking your bike out for a spin, feeling the wind in your hair without a care in the world. Whether you decide to ride an electric bike or a regular bike, cycling is one of the great things to do in .

Indulge in a Little Self Care

Now that you’ve embarked on cycling and SUP adventures, it’s time to relax and take care of yourself. Enter ShopEco. It’s an independent retail store with two locations in , focusing on clean and sustainable beauty products. I visited their location in Tecumseh and was immediately greeted by their knowledgeable staff.

Alright, I’m going to get real with you for a moment. Time flies and I’m not fresh out of college anymore. I’ve recently entered my late thirties, and I hadn’t given much thought to developing a skincare routine (aside from applying makeup before I go out, and removing it when I got home). I think it’s about time to start taking care of my skin properly.

Shop Local in

ShopEco specializes in local, Canadian products, which use the best ingredients that are also kind to the environment. The staff at ShopEco helped me develop my own skincare routine that will restore and rejuvenate my skin. Most of their products are also vegan, and they’re all cruelty-free and not tested on animals.

Shopping for beauty and skincare items can sometimes be overwhelming. There’s such a massive variety of products, and you don’t know which ones are actually good for your skin. There’s really so much marketing and you might be throwing your money away on products that don’t work, test on animals, or contain harmful chemicals and carcinogens.

You don’t need to worry about any of that when you visit ShopEco. Their staff will choose products that work perfectly with your skin type, and they only sell eco-friendly, clean beauty brands. The entire experience was relaxing, enjoyable, and one of the best things to do in . There’s such a peaceful and calming atmosphere in their retail store. So, indulge a little! As their sign says, “Self care isn’t selfish” and there’s nothing wrong with taking care of yourself.

Eat as Much Delicious Vegan Food as You Can

When you travel, do you plan your activities first, or do you plan the activities around your meals? One of my favorite things to do in was simply to eat all of the yummy food. I traveled a few hours away from home for the attractions that I mentioned above, but also for the amazing vegan food scene. has quite a few plant-based eateries or restaurants with vegan options. I was ready to sample as many of them as possible during my stay. Here are my recommendations for vegan food in .

Nooch

Nooch is a vegan restaurant in offering comfort food that both omnivores and vegans will love. They’ve got all of your favorite meals made from plants. You’ll find items on the menu like Buffalo bites (made from seitan), jackfruit tacos, poutine, caesar kale salad, a Reuben sandwich, and a Philly cheesesteak.

I opted to try the Detroiter hot dog (which really pleased one of my friends who lives just across the border in Michigan). It’s a Field Roast frankfurter topped with the most delicious chili ever. Then, there are mustard and onions on top of the chili. It was served with a mountain of fries. Seriously, I don’t think any more fries could fit on my plate!

They also have tons of desserts (I went away with a slice of their famous carrot cake), so you’ll have to save a little bit of room for something sweet.

Carrots n’ Dates

Carrots n’ Dates specializes in wholesome, gluten-free and plant-based food made with the freshest ingredients. Established in 2012, they now have two restaurants serving the area. I visited their location in Tecumseh, which also happened to have live music when I visited on a Friday evening. That was a lovely touch!

You’ll find healthy and delicious vegan meals here, like salads, soups, bowls, and burgers. It was really difficult to choose just one menu item for dinner as everything sounded so yummy. I tried the Buddha Bowl: warm brown rice, greens, grilled smoked tofu, red peppers, carrots, cucumber, sesame, and tahini dressing. Paired with a kombucha, it was absolutely delicious. I happily munched on my tasty Buddha Bowl while listening to live music in front of a colorful mural wall. It was blissful!

Healthy Mama

Healthy Mama is a relaxed, plant-based and gluten-free bistro in Tecumseh, . They’re also a small retail shop with many frozen meals, grab and go items, and interesting packaged foods that I hadn’t seen before. Everything is vegan and gluten-free, which certainly makes my dining and shopping experience a breeze because I can eat anything on the menu!

This restaurant and shop has such a warm and welcoming vibe from the staff. You’ll certainly feel right at home here, as I could tell that this establishment has many repeat guests. There’s a wonderful patio outdoors, perfect for warm, summer days. I visited Healthy Mama for breakfast, and couldn’t resist trying one of their smoothie bowls. I chose the Pink Pitaya Smoothie Bowl, basically for the fact that it was pink, but it also happened to be satisfying and delicious.

I’d love to return someday for lunch or dinner to try more dishes. Spicy sushi bowl, Crab Cake Po’ Boy, Mexi-Mac N Cheese? Yes, please! I feel like I’ll have many tough decisions ahead of me.

Thyme Kitchen

Thyme Kitchen is a chef driven restaurant, inspired by local ingredients, in the heart of . While they aren’t exclusively vegan or vegetarian, they do have plenty of options for those following vegan or gluten-free diets. It’s the perfect spot for weekend brunch, and I actually had a difficult time choosing which vegan meal to order.

I asked the staff for their recommendations, and they informed me that the Tofu Crunch Wrap was one of their most popular items. I was definitely not disappointed with this choice. The ingredients included: brown rice, tofu, tomato, avocado, peppers, spinach, vegan cheese, and crunchy tostada, wrapped inside a wheat tortilla. It was paired with a delightful chipotle aioli, as well as two sides of your choice (I selected potato hash and the pineapple coleslaw).

If I could eat this everyday for breakfast or lunch, I’d be so happy! The combination of the fillings with the crunchiness of the tostada, dipped in the chipotle aioli was absolutely divine. The side dishes were super yummy, too!

BONUS: Get Your Name Spelled in Donuts

Plant Joy also belongs in the vegan section of this article, but I thought it deserved some special attention. Yes, you can actually get your name (or any word or phrase, really) spelled out in DONUTS!

Plant Joy is the first vegan doughnut shop in . Its storefront only opened three weeks prior to my visit, though its owner started making donuts in April 2018. Jordynne couldn’t find a vegan doughnut in , so she decided to make her own. Plant Joy was born, and the city clearly cannot get enough. When I visited Plant Joy, there were an endless stream of customers, looking for their donut fix.

Plant Joy has many flavors of donuts. Some of them are around all the time, and some are seasonal. I was overjoyed that Jordynne spelled my name out of donuts! Not only did it look super adorable, but it also meant that I got to eat six doughnuts. I tried lemon lavender, chocolate, cinnamon sugar, strawberries & cream, raspberry, and vanilla frosted. It was hard to choose a favorite, but I think I’d have to go with the strawberries and cream. Yum!

You’ve simply gotta try these award-winning donuts. They’re light, fluffy, flavorful, and almost the size of my head, I kid you not. Plant Joy uses fair-trade, organic, and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. When you travel to , you must stop by Plant Joy for one…two…or however many doughnuts you’d like. Surprise your loved ones by spelling out their name in doughnuts. It really brought so much joy to my life to see my name in donuts!

Getting There

I had a comfortable and relaxing journey from Toronto to aboard VIA Rail . Their trains travel from Toronto’s Union Station to . It’s definitely less stressful and more eco-friendly than driving down to on your own.

VIA Rail: Business Class

I was fortunate enough to experience Business Class travel on VIA Rail between Toronto and . As I arrived a little bit early to Union Station, I took advantage of the Business Class Lounge. Help yourself to complimentary coffee and beverages before your trip. Sit back and relax with free Wi-Fi in their spacious lounge area. When it’s time to board the train, someone at the front desk will announce it over the speaker. Then, when you walk down to the boarding area, you’re able to skip the line and board first.

On the train, I enjoyed a luxurious experience in their spacious and comfortable seats. As I wanted to work on my laptop computer, I sat at a large table and spread out all of my work and belongings. There’s free Wi-Fi on board, as well as places to plug in and charge your devices.

Business Class comes with a complimentary meal, which was breakfast in my case. I didn’t request a vegan meal ahead of time, though they can accommodate this request. Thankfully, they were able to cobble together a vegan breakfast without any difficulties: fresh fruit and a bagel with jam. Coffee was continually flowing while I was on board, too. All in all, I had a safe and relaxing trip with VIA Rail , and I highly recommend that you choose the train for your adventures.

Getting Around

When I arrived at the train station in , a representative from Enterprise Rent-A-Car picked me up. It’s nice that they offer this service. You don’t need to worry about how you’ll get to the rental car office when you arrive in the city. We went to their office to sign a few papers, and then I took off in one of their vehicles for the duration of my trip. Renting a car with Enterprise was so easy, and the car was practically brand new.

I do recommend renting a car, as you might find that your favorite attractions are across town from one another. It’s also wonderful to have a car, especially in those situations where you accumulate bags and boxes with all of the goodies you found shopping in .

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You can browse and even buy prints, housewares, and more – all made from our pictures!<div class="kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore-wrap"><a class="kt-blocks-info-box-learnmore" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://go.redirectingat.com/?id=125747X1586856&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftravelphotos.justinpluslauren.com%2F%2F%2F-2019&sref=rss">Learn More <p>If you’re looking for a weekend getaway in southern , needs to be on your radar. Using the Via Rail, it’s easy to get to from Toronto or any other city in . There are so many things to do in , especially for those who love outdoor adventures, eco-friendly activities, and delicious vegan eats. I know I only scraped the surface of what has to offer, and I’d love to explore the city even more in the future. <ul class="wp-block-gallery columns-3"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest3-683x1024.jpg" alt="5 Unique Things to Do in : An Eco-Friendly Guide to an Epic Tips Plans" data-id="18425" data-link="https://justinpluslauren.com/?attachment_id=18425" class="wp-image-18425" srcset="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest3-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest3.jpg 735w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest2-683x1024.jpg" alt="5 Unique Things to Do in : An Eco-Friendly Guide to an Epic Tips Plans" data-id="18424" data-link="https://justinpluslauren.com/?attachment_id=18424" class="wp-image-18424" srcset="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest2-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest2-200x300.jpg 200w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest2.jpg 735w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /><li class="blocks-gallery-item"><figure><img src="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest1-683x1024.jpg" alt="5 Unique Things to Do in : An Eco-Friendly Guide to an Epic Tips Plans" data-id="18423" data-link="https://justinpluslauren.com/?attachment_id=18423" class="wp-image-18423" srcset="https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest1-683x1024.jpg 683w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest1-200x300.jpg 200w, https://justinpluslauren.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/-Pinterest1.jpg 735w" sizes="(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px" /> <p style="text-align:center">PIN one of the above images to Pinterest for future reference. 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Washington Beer Awards announced With Chuckanut Brewery, Engine House No. 9 and Crossbuck some of the key winners.

Press Release

Seattle, WA, … Specialty Competitions LLC is proud to release the results of the seventh

annual Washington Beer Awards®. This year 117 Washington breweries received recognition of gold, silver, and bronze medals in 79 award category groupings.

The results for this Washington-only professional beer competition were announced on June 15th at the Washington Brewers Festival at Marymoor Park in Redmond where some of Washington’s best brewers received medals for their award winning beers.

The judging for the Washington Beer Awards was held on June 1st and 2nd at Elliott Bay Public House & Brewery in Lake City. The panels of trained judges had to evaluate 1,467 beers from 193 breweries spanning 135 unique styles from the Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines for technical and stylistic excellence.

The competition was held with the endorsement of the Washington Beer Commission as a way to celebrate Washington’s growing brewing culture and recognize excellence in the craft. All of Washington’s craft breweries were invited to submit entries to the competition held in a similar format to other craft beer competitions like the Great American Beer Festival® and World Beer Cup®.

Four special awards, the Very Small, Small, Mid-Sized and Large Breweries of the Year, were presented to breweries who won numerous medals in many categories. Headless Mumby won as the Very Small Brewery of the Year with gold and silver medals. Dystopian State mustered a strong showing winning in the Small Brewery of the Year category with two golds and two silvers. Lowercase Brewing won the Mid-Size Brewery of the Year five golds along with a gold medal in the Pro-Am and silver in the Collaboration category. The Large Brewery of the Year was dominated by Chuckanut Brewery by scoring 9 medals with only 10 entries!

A few special awards were also providing recognizing some unique Washington brewing excellence. Crossbuck Brewing’s “Brew Crew Lavender Wit” was selected as the Best Washington Agricultural Product Inspired Beer for showcasing locally harvested lavender with a Belgian wit backbone. 20 Corners Brewery had their “La Push” Vienna lager selected as the Best Washington Malt beer showcasing malts produced strictly in Washington. Lowercase Brewing Company won a gold in the “Pro-Am” category for a contemporary American lager called “Uncle’s Rice Lager” that was developed by Washington homebrewer Matt Geimer and scaled up for commercial production. Additionally, Redhook Brewlab and Brewhall collaborated on a Brett beer called “Labhall” which won gold in this year’s “Collaboration Beer” category.

More information on the competition and the complete list of results can be found at http://bit.ly/1ngIP5H. Watch for Washington’s award winning beers marked at your local craft beer bars and beer stores and get ready for the Washington Beer Awards to return in 2020 where new winners will be decided!

Complete Results:

German Pale Lagers: Gold: Dystopian State - Heliophant Silver: Kulshan Brewing Co. - Sunnyland - Helles Bronze: MIRAGE - Patek Water

German-Style Pilsners: Gold: Jellyfish Brewing Company - Hydra Pils Silver: Bellevue Brewing Co - Bellevue Brewing Pilsner Bronze: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Luger Pils

Bohemian-Style Pilsners: Gold: Chainline Brewing Company - Polaris Silver: Brothers Cascadia Brewing - The People's Pilsner Bronze: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Pilsner

Vienna-Style Lagers: Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Vienna Lager Silver: Ram Restaurant & Brewery - Rabbit Punch Bronze: Burke-Gilman Brewing Company - Archduke

German-Style Schwarzbiers: Gold: Paradise Creek Brewery - After Dark Silver: Odd Otter Brewing - Von Himmel Bronze: Kulshan Brewing Co. - Sunnyland - Schwarzbier

Other German Dark Lagers: Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Dunkel Silver: Dru Bru - Bru Ski Patrol Bronze: Chainline Brewing Company - Cerne

Light American-Style Lagers: Gold: Lowercase Brewing - American Light LAGER Silver: Odin Brewing Co. - Freya's Gold Lager Bronze: STONES THROW BREWERY - Raincountry Liquid Sunshine

Contemporary American-Style Pilseners: Gold: Single Hill Brewing - Citizen Grain Silver: Bellevue Brewing Co - Bellevue Brewing IPL Bronze: Dreadnought Brewing LLC - Old Man

Other American-Style Lagers: Gold: Lowercase Brewing - Mexican LAGER Silver: Headless Mumby Brewing - Cascadian Brown Lager Bronze: Four Generals Brewing - Rentoncito

International Lagers: Gold: Varietal Beer Company - Casita Silver: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Asian Lager Bronze: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Mexican Lager

German-Style Heller Bock/Maibocks: Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Maibock Silver: Anacortes Brewing Company - Mai-Oh-Mai Bock Bronze: Redhook Brewlab - Motorhook

Other Strong Lagers: Gold: Lowercase Brewing - EISBOCK Silver: Big Barn Brewing Co. - Deitz Bock Bronze: Kulshan Brewing Co. - Sunnyland - Doppelbock

German-Style Kölsches: Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Kolsch Silver: North Jetty Brewing - Yellow Boots Kolsch Style Ale Bronze: North Jetty Brewing - North Jetty Kolsch

German-Style Altbiers: Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Alt Silver: Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. - Ein Malz Und Hopfen (EMuH) Bronze: Burke-Gilman Brewing Company - Der Alte

German-Style Maerzens: Gold: Elliott Bay Brewing Co - West Seattle - My Favorite Marzen Silver: Icicle Brewing Company - Dirtyface Amber Bronze: Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery - Flying Bock

South German-Style Hefeweizens: Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Hefeweizen Silver: Well 80 Brewing Company - Folle Pulle! Bronze: 20 Corners Brewing Company - Scud Runner

Other German Wheat Beers: Gold: Flyers Restaurant And Brewery - Heat Seeker Hefe Silver: Stoup Brewing - Darker Fields Weizenbock (Collaboration With Holy Mountain) Bronze: STONES THROW BREWERY - Kristal Who?

American Wheat Beers: Gold: Fish Brewing Company - Hefeweizen Silver: Snoqualmie Falls Brewery - Haystack Bronze: Metier Brewing Company - Wheat

Rye Beers: Gold: Headless Mumby Brewing - Smoked Rye Lager Silver: Haywire Brewing Co. - Ryed Into The Dark Bronze: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Rye Lager

American-Style Cream Ales: Gold: Postdoc Brewing - Hydrogen Blonde Silver: Pacific Brewing And Malting - 1897 Lager Bronze: Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co. - Beaver Deceiver

Golden or Blonde Ales: Gold: Dick's Brewing Co. - Golden Ale Silver: Rainy Daze Brewing - Blonde Bronze: Diamond Knot Brewing Co. - Northwest Blonde

Session Beers: Gold: Cloudburst Brewing - Tell Me Lies Silver: Perry Street Brewing - Session IPL Bronze: Perry Street Brewing - Session IPmaybeA

English-Style Bitters: Gold: Lowercase Brewing - ESB Silver: Elliott Bay Brewing Co - West Seattle - Organic Alembic Pale Bronze: Fish Brewing Company - Organic IPA

English Pale Ales: Gold: San Juan Island Brewing Co. - Quarry No.9 Pale Ale Silver: Anacortes Brewing Company - Humpday English Mild Bronze: Ram Restaurant & Brewery - Hometown Blonde

English Dark Ales: Gold: North 47 Brewing - Guvnuh Silver: Fortside Brewing Company - Couve A'licious Bronze: Dog Days Brewing - Mildly Infuriating

British Strong Ales: Gold: Cairn Brewing - Wee Heavey Silver: Silver City Brewery - Old Scrooge Bronze: Odin Brewing Co. - Thor's Reserve Stout

Scottish Shilling Ales: Gold: Scamp Brewing Co. - And My Axe Silver: Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co. - Bonnie Doon Scottish Ale Bronze: North Jetty Brewing - Leadbetter Red Scottish Style Ale

Scotch Ales: Gold: Silver City Brewery - Magnificent Bastard Silver: Black Raven Brewing - Second Sight Bronze: The Pike Brewing Company - Pike Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale

Irish Red Ales: Gold: Silver City Brewery - Ridgetop Red Silver: Rainy Daze Brewing - Dukes Up Bronze: Haywire Brewing Co. - Foxtrail

Brown Porters: Gold: Iron Goat Brewing - Bob's Your Uncle Brown Porter Silver: San Juan Island Brewing Co. - Black Boar Porter Bronze: Aslan Brewing Co - Bham Brown

Robust Porters: Gold: Ravenna Brewing Co - Lion Tamer Silver: Pacific Brewing And Malting - Grit City Porter Bronze: Flyers Restaurant And Brewery - Pacemaker Porter

Sweet/Cream Stouts: Gold: Bushnell Craft Brewing Company - Dunkadelic Silver: Pacific Brewing And Malting - Mama Bear Milk Stout Bronze: Ten Pin Brewing - Snake Eye Stout

Oatmeal Stouts: Gold: Dreadnought Brewing LLC - Chocolate Jesus Silver: Rainy Daze Brewing - Built For Comfort Stout Bronze: American Brewing - American Oatmeal Stout

Irish Stouts: Gold: Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company - Trout Stout Silver: Odin Brewing Co. - Thor's Shadow Imperial Stout Bronze: Lagunitas Brewing Company - Pint O' Danny's Irish Stout

American-Style Stouts: Gold: Top Rung Brewing Company - My Dog Scout Stout Silver: Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co. - Gentlemens Stout Bronze: Hop Nation Brewing Company - Lane Splitter Stout

American-Style Imperial Stouts: Gold: Black Raven Brewing - Grandfather Raven Silver: Urban Family Brewing Company - Dunkable Bronze: Gig Harbor Brewing Co. LLC - Gig Harbor Imperial Stout

American-Style Pale Ales: Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Papermaker Pale Silver: Burke-Gilman Brewing Company - Troll Tears Bronze: Hellbent Brewing Company - Always Naked Summer Pale

Juicy or Hazy Pale Ales: Gold: MIRAGE - Final Rose Silver: Reuben's Brews - 1406 Brewery - Hazealicious Bronze: Hellbent Brewing Company - Seattle Sunshine Hazy Pale

American-Style Strong Pale Ales: Gold: Single Hill Brewing - Eastside IPA Silver: Stoup Brewing - Citra IPA Bronze: Hellbent Brewing Company - DANG! Citra IPA

American Amber Ales: Gold: Hellbent Brewing Company - Funky Red Patina Silver: Big Block Brewing - Flathead Red Bronze: Wenatchee Valley Brewing Company - Overlord Amber Ale

American-Style Brown and Black Ales: Gold: Big Block Brewing - Big Block Brown Silver: Populuxe Brewing - Beer Snob Brown Bronze: Western Red Brewing - Crew Boss CDA

American-Style India Pale Ales: Gold: Grains Of Wrath Brewing - Overkill IPA Silver: Barrel Mountain Brewing - Unplug IPA Bronze: The Pike Brewing Company - Pike Bitterlake IPA

Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ales: Gold: Trap Door Brewing - Glowed Up Silver: Trap Door Brewing - TANG Bronze: Old Schoolhouse Brewery - Eddy Hopper

Imperial or Double India Pale Ales: Gold: Sumerian Brewing Co. - Hopruption Double IPA Silver: Ghost Runners Brewery - Pre-HOPtaine Bronze: Taneum Creek Brewing - Never Lift IIPA

Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ales: Gold: Trap Door Brewing - Popular Culture Silver: Reuben's Brews - Triple Crush Bronze: Urban Family Brewing Company - Game Breaker

Other American Strong Ales: Gold: Double Bluff Brewing Company - Anthesian India Red Ale Silver: Three Bull Brewing Co. - Elk Camp Porter Bronze: Georgetown Brewing Company - 18 Pound

Barleywines: Gold: Icicle Brewing Company - Decline Silver: Boundary Bay Brewery And Bistro - Old Bounder Bronze: Three Magnets Brewing Company - Old Skook Barleywine

Belgo-American & International Ales: Gold: Reuben's Brews - 1406 Brewery - Crikey IPA Silver: Reuben's Brews - Triumvirate Bronze: Sound Brewery - Monk's Indiscretion

Belgian-Style Witbiers: Gold: Lowercase Brewing - WITBIER Silver: Reuben's Brews - Lilywhite Wit Bronze: Standard Brewing - Eclair Blanche

Belgian Ales: Gold: Bainbridge Brewing - Bainbridge Blonde Silver: Diamond Knot Brewing Co. - Binnacle Bronze: Wander Brewing - Wanderale

Light Abbey-Inspired Ales: Gold: Triplehorn Brewing Co - Stupid Monke Silver: Northish Beer Company - Petit Epeautre Bronze: Sound Brewery - Tripel Entendre

Dark Abbey-Inspired Ales: Gold: Everybody's Brewing - Dubbel Parked Silver: Sound Brewery - Dubbel Entendre Bronze: Dick's Brewing Co. - Grand Cru

Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ales: Gold: Kulshan Brewing Co. - Double Entendre Silver: Counterbalance Brewing Company - Belgian Golden Strong Ale Bronze: Metier Brewing Company - Belgian Golden

Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ales: Gold: Decibel Brewing Co - Pour Some Sugar On Me Silver: Silver City Brewery - Giant Made Of Shadows Bronze: Odin Brewing Co. - Thor's Equinox

Belgian and French Farmhouse Ales: Gold: Snoqualmie Falls Brewery - Meadowbrook Silver: Burke-Gilman Brewing Company - L'Internationale Bronze: Ravenna Brewing Co - First Harvest

Specialty Saisons: Gold: Dystopian State - Black Swan Project Silver: Figurehead Brewing Company - 1710 Saison Bronze: Mac & Jacks Brewery Inc. - Brett Saison

Brett Beers: Gold: Standard Brewing - Old Money Silver: Matchless Brewing - Bright & Brux Bronze: Brothers Cascadia Brewing - Cadenza

Mixed Culture Brett Beers: Gold: E9 Brewing Co - Les Chalmeures Silver: E9 Brewing Co - Ohgma's Blessing Bronze: Tin Dog Brewing - CatWalk

German-Style Sour Beers: Gold: Aslan Brewing Co - A Study Of Dreams Silver: Single Hill Brewing - Lemonade Rocketship Bronze: Wander Brewing - Champagne Toast

Contemporary-Style Goses: Gold: Ten Pin Brewing - Guava Gose Silver: Old Stove Brewing - Gose 2.0 Bronze: Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria - One Red Thread

American-Style Sour and Wild Ales: Gold: Standard Brewing - Apocryphal Silver: Heathen Brewing - Mojita Sour Bronze: Northish Beer Company - Rarified Inertia

Belgian Sour Beers: Gold: Tin Dog Brewing - Errant Whispers Silver: Elliott Bay Brewing Co - Lake City - Big Pun Bronze: Elliott Bay Brewing Co - Lake City - De Rode Duivels

American-Style Fruit Beers: Gold: Twin Sisters Brewing Company - Strawberry Zwickelbier Silver: Silver City Brewery - Sun Glitter Bronze: Ice Harbor Brewing Co. - Tropika IPA

Fruit Wheat Beers: Gold: Ten Pin Brewing - Groove Silver: Ten Pin Brewing - Taphouse - Tropical Groove Bronze: Steam Donkey Brewing Co. - Currant Situation

Belgian-Style Fruit Lambics: Gold: E9 Brewing Co - Last Truck To Clarksville Silver: E9 Brewing Co - Genus Rubus Bronze: E9 Brewing Co - Wild Tacoma Bing Cherry

Vegetable Beers: Gold: Cloudburst Brewing - Grandma Take Me Home Silver: Black Raven Brewing - Coco Jones Bronze: North Fork Brewery - Golden Beet Berliner

Chili Pepper Beers: Gold: 20 Corners Brewing Company - Zicatella Silver: Ten Pin Brewing - Taphouse - Smokin' Hot Blonde Bronze: Rail Hop'n Brewing Co - Firebox Jalapeno Amber

Coffee & Chocolate Beers: Gold: Rooftop Brewing Company - Ladro Sul Tetto Silver: Cloudburst Brewing - Bad Timing Bronze: Silver City Brewery - Kwik Stout

Belgian-Style Fruit Beers: Gold: Silver City Brewery - Foxy Lady Silver: Reuben's Brews - Brettania - Blackberry And Boysenberry Bronze: Perihelion Brewery - Black Current

Herb & Spice Beers: Gold: Varietal Beer Company - Varietal Rose Silver: Atwood Ales Farm Brewery - Mo's Saison Bronze: Ten Pin Brewing - Taphouse - Horchata Stout

Smoke Beers: Gold: Chuckanut Brewery - Chuckanut Rauch Helles Silver: Packwood Brewing Co - Butter Peak Porter Bronze: Lucky Envelope Brewing - Smoked Tea Helles Lager

Specialty & Historical Beers: Gold: Resonate Brewery + Pizzeria - King Bee Silver: Dystopian State - Gold Sigil Bronze: Chainline Brewing Company - Steinbier

Experimental Beers: Gold: 20 Corners Brewing Company - Calypso Silver: Ten Pin Brewing - Taphouse - Strata Brut Bronze: MIRAGE - Life Trap

Wood & Barrel Aged Beers: Gold: Fortside Brewing Company - Port/Bourbon Barrel Aged Kanaka Silver: Dystopian State - Barrel Aged Old Rye Old Fashioned Bronze: Iron Goat Brewing - Gin Barrel Aged Buzzsaw McThunder IPA

Wood & Barrel Aged Imperial Stouts: Gold: Wander Brewing - Earlybird Silver: Elliott Bay Brewing Co - Lake City - Bourbon Fauntleroy Imperial Stout Bronze: Rainy Daze Brewing - Resin Ball Stout

Page 10 State Brewers Shine in Seventh Washington Beer Awards®

Other Wood & Barrel Aged Strong Beers: Gold: Elysian Brewing Co - Cyclops Silver: Backwoods Brewing Company - Tequila Cutt IIPA Bronze: Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co. - Aged Gentlemen

Wood & Barrel Aged Sour Beers: Gold: Urban Family Brewing Company - Vernal Bloom Silver: Georgetown Brewing Company - Sea Of Life Bronze: 7 Seas Brewing Co. - Sour Raspberry Blend

Pro-Am: Gold: Lowercase Brewing & Homebrewer Cory Geerdts - Dorkmunder Silver: Redhook Brewlab & Homebrewer Phil Cammarano - La Saison De Phil Bronze: Flying Lion Brewing & Homebrewer Matt Geimer - Uncle's Rice Lager

Collaboration Beers: Gold: Redhook Brewlab & Brewhall - LabHall Silver: Lowercase Brewing & Floating Bridge Brewing - Forbidden Rice Lager Bronze: Trap Door Brewing & Dwinell Country Ales - Gift Horse

Best Washington Agricultural Product Inspired Beer: Crossbuck Brewing - Blue Crew Lavender Wit Best Washington Malt Beer (Sponsored by Skagit Valley Malting): 20 Corners Brewing Company - La Push Very Small Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Crosby Hops): Headless Mumby Brewing Small Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Washington Hops Commission): Dystopian State Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by YCH Hops, Yakima Chief – Hopunion): Lowercase Brewing Large Brewery of the Year (Sponsored by Briess Malt and Ingredients): Chuckanut Brewer

from News - The Northwest Beer Guide http://bit.ly/2ImpNQp

Beer Events 3.12

Events

Bristol magistrates fixed the price of beer, punishing violators with forfeiture of the brewery (England; 1283)

Thomas Marsh patented an Improvement in Beer Faucets (1867)

Cooke Brewing bought Union Brewing (Chicago, Illinois; 1885)

Herman Eldredge died (1898)

Edward Lukowski patented a Beer-Tap (1912)

Siesel Canaday patanted a Beer Keg (1940)

Leland Floyd patented a Beer Cooling Keg (1940)

Ballantine Burton Ale brewed for 2nd, and last, time (1946)

Gisbert Schlimme and Manfred Tschirner patented a Device for the Germination and Drying of Malt (1974)

Caldera Brewing incorporated (Oregon; 1996)

Steinecker patented a Brewing House System Including at Least Two Wort Coppers (1996)

Breweries Opened

Otter Creek Brewing (Vermont; 1991)

Panther City Brewery & Cafe (Texas; 1996)

Otter Creek Brewing: All Souls Lager. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt9d1MXhPif/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gsjago2r3b9w

All Souls Lager

There’s a unique collaboration brewing in Vermont. A collaboration between pals and a hefty helping of locally-grown hominy. Otter Creek Brewing and All Souls Tortilleria are excited to introduce All Souls Lager, a crisp, toasty, and refreshing amber-hued lager.

This brand new brew is best enjoyed alongside good friends, delicious food, and new badges. Check-in one (1) All Souls Lager by Otter Creek Brewing Co between February 15th - March 15th and the “All Souls Lager” badge is yours.

Learn more about Otter Creek at http://ottercreekbrewing.com and connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

IPAs for people who think they hate hoppy, bitter beers

 (Courtesy of Otter Creek Brewing)

 (Courtesy of Sixpoint Brewery)

 (Courtesy of Founders Brewing)

 (Courtesy of 21st Amendment Brewery)

 (Courtesy of Dogfish Head Brewery)

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Everyone loves IPAs, right? That was my theory when I started writing Complete IPA, my deep dive into the recent phenomenon thats seen IPAs take over tap lines from L.A. to Tokyo, Rio to Berlin and beer-soaked lands in between. But as I, uh, endlessly researched (hey, that double IPA aint going to drink itself), I discovered both bitter revelation and opposition: I dont like IPAs, I heard time and again.

Anchovies? Blue cheese? I get the intense dislike. Whats not to love about fragrant IPAs? Theyre flavor chameleons, tasting like rainbow sorbet or evoking pine forests, sipping as smooth as gelato or spiky with bitterness. Theyre blank slates for breweries experimental whims.

The IPA is not one thing, its everything, with flavor combinations as infinite and inventive as Ben and Jerrys ice cream. Ive heard the complaints, the bitterness and booziness, staleness and uncertainty. Whatever your beef with IPAs, I guarantee Ive got one youll actually like.

Problem: You dont like bitter beers

Fix: Try the new-breed Northeast-style IPAs.

During the IPAs early millennium ascent, brewers escalated bitterness, constantly one-upping each other with beers so bitter you could barely finish a bottle. It was like sports bars serving ever-fierier chicken wings.

The newest member of the Alchemist Family! Cookie. pic.twitter.com/Y4nVcjhOUX

John Kimmich (@alchemistbeer) May 24, 2015

That fads phasing out. By using hops (especially varieties evocative of things like tropical fruit and ripe peaches) later in the brewing process, beer makers intensify fragrances and aromas, not bitterness. Keep the beer unfiltered for a foggier color and fuller flavor, maybe add oats and wheat for smoothness, and you have a template for the juicy new-school IPA thats sweeping the Northeast and the nation.

If youve had the Alchemists silky-smooth Heady Topper or any IPA from Hill Farmstead, youll like the dankly addictive Substance from Maines Bissell Brothers, or maybe Trilliums Congress Street IPA. Think: biscuits, sun-warmed peaches, sweet melons.

Many Northeast IPAs are hard-to-get, requiring a road trip. (Try this Vermont trek.) More widely distributed examples include Otter Creek Backseat Berner, a sweetly hazy stumble through pine forests and citrus groves, and Sixpoint Puff, as cloudy and resinous as a dorm room.

Moreover, the Northeast style has spread nationwide, with Colorado-based Odd13s Caribbean-fruity Codename: Superfan and Portland brewery Great Notion doling out hazy, hardly bitter hop bombs like Ripe and Juice Box.

Problem: IPAs all taste the same.

Fix: Seek out a new hop variety.

Pine trees. Citrus. Primo weed. Taste too many IPAs and they blur together like lunch at a cut-rate Chinese buffet. To escape the flavor fatigue, grab a pale ale or IPA humming with fresh varieties of hops, the flowers that impart bitterness, aroma, and flavor. Here are some hops to look out for:

Founders Mosaic Promise and Karl Strauss Mosaic Session IPA both showcase (you guessed it) Mosaic hops, which impart notes of blueberries, papaya, peaches, and pine.

IPAs for People Who *Think* They Hate Them: https://t.co/lasZsIfw5F from @JoshMBernstein & @bonappetit pic.twitter.com/QSGXitOkSr

Founders Brewing Co. (@foundersbrewing) August 31, 2016

Germanys Mandarina Bavaria hop adds orangey complexity to beers such as Skas Modus Mandarina IPA (it also contains sweet orange peels).

Like watermelon Jolly Ranchers? Youll love El Dorado hops, which star in Maine Beer Companys A Tiny Beautiful Something and Stone Delicious IPA, a gluten-reduced beer also containing the citrusy Lemondrop hops.

New Zealands fruity Nelson Sauvin hops provide a white winelike nuance in Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA and SanTan Brewings MoonJuice, which also contains Australias peachy, melon-like Galaxy hops. Give it a go in Tasmanian IPA, from Schlafly, or Tallgrass 8-Bit Pale Ale.

Always want to be surprised by an IPA? Firestone Walkers canned and bottled Luponic Distortion features a new blend of experimental hops every 90 days.

Problem: IPAs are too strong.

Fix: Grab a session IPAor six.

Over the years, the IPAs baseline ABV has crept up to around 7 percent. Two or three pints can swirl eyes like peppermint candy. Thats to say nothing of the double, triple, and quadruple IPAs, rivaling Riesling and Cabernet for ABV supremacy.

Instead of sacrificing sobriety for flavor, breweries have created low-alcohol, high-aroma IPAs that are about as boozy as Bud Lightbut about a million times more flavorful. Try Evil Twin Citra Sunshine Slacker, as bright and tropical as a Caribbean vacation; 21st Amendment Down to Earth, reminiscent of toast topped with berry jam; or a Founders citrus-spritzed All Day IPA, a party beer sold by the 15-pack suitcase.

Problem: IPAs never, ever taste fresh.

Fix: Check for the bottled- or canned-on date, or hit a brewery for a release.

To savor an IPA as the brewer intended, you should drink them close to their birthday.

Deciphering freshness used to be difficult, the date code a hieroglyphic string of numbers and letters. Increasingly, breweries utilize a simplified best by or packaged on code, commonly found on a beer bottles neck or label, or a cans bottom. Generally speaking, IPAs are ideally enjoyed within 90 days. And seek out beers stored cold, far from sunshine.

Instead of stalking a delivery truck, you can also look for Stones Enjoy By series of IPAs. Their expiration dates37 days after packagingare built directly into the label, while Sam Adams similarly themed Rebel Raw double IPA has a 35-day shelf life.

Problem: You dont know what an IPA tastes like

Fix: Try a fruited IPA.

Buying IPAs has never been easieror more mystifying. But labels dont always accurately describe the liquid inside, sometimes leading to disappointment. To hedge your bets, look to the new breed of fruit-infused IPAs. Done deftly, adding blood oranges, grapefruit, or pineapple can accentuate the inherent fruity profile of hops. Fruited IPAs are never subtle, sure, but they are truth in advertising, a trusted commodity.

Try Dogfish Heads brand-new Flesh & Blood, tart and zesty with lemon pulp and blood orange juice, and New Belgiums Citradelica sweetly tropical love letter to tangerines. Also, Ballast Point has spun off several variants of its tropical Sculpin, including pineapple and grapefruit versions that taste like never-ending summer vacation.

Source: http://allofbeer.com/ipas-for-people-who-think-they-hate-hoppy-bitter-beers/

from All of Beer https://allofbeer.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/ipas-for-people-who-think-they-hate-hoppy-bitter-beers/

Shift pint warm up. #drinkinganddrawing #practice #warmup #captainamerica #copicmultiliner #marvel #marvelcomics #superhero #drawing #art (at Otter Creek Brewing) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1KDLC_hRC9/?igshid=1nv4sc1eb1a5e